A few months into 1992, most of America still thought Bill Clinton had a rich father. The guy reminded people of John Kennedy. It is called not having name recognition. It did not matter that the guy did not even have a father, let alone a rich father, the facts be damned as far as the voters were concerned.
Today half of America has never heard of Barack Obama. That is very okay at this stage. That is normal.
A few months back I was at this political event, and there was this young black professional from the music industry. And I witnessed he had never heard of Obama. At first I thought he was just pulling my leg. But he really did not know who Obama was. I was flabbergasted. Seeing that he asked me if I knew, and he said the name of some obscure music figure. I said no. He had made his point!
These blacks in South Carolina who have gone ahead and endorsed Clinton, they likely never have heard of Obama, and in their mind they probably think they are endorsing Bill Clinton. I would not be surprised.
Like this friend of mine from Albania, smart guy, went on to get a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech, and it is late 1998, and it looks like Bush is going to run for president. I tell that to him. And he is like, come on, man, get a life, you lost once, that is enough. He thought it was the elder Bush who was running.
When most of America thinks Clinton, they think Bill Clinton. But Hillary is Hillary and Bill is Bill. Hillary is no Bill. She is probably smarter than Bill Clinton, as in SAT smart, but she does not have his political instincts. She is much less comfortable with retail politics.
And that dissonance is going to get clearer and clearer the more people see her on the campaign trail. So she has no way to go but down.
For Obama it is no way but up. When people get to know him, they like him. And he is the first Obama they ever heard of in life. So there will be no dissonance.
And Obama not being wildly popular with the blacks is probably a plus for Obama. He is not pretending to be a reincarnation of MLK. His offering is very postracial. He is saying I am applying for a specific job, and I am the best person for that job, hire me. He is not saying, black people, come with me, I will liberate you. That was MLK, that was another era.
Just like most whites, most blacks have never heard of Barack Obama. And that is okay for now. Give them time. They are not late. We are early.
In The News
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S. Carolina Black Leaders Back Clinton Guardian Unlimited, UK
Endorsement raises doubts about Obama Boston Globe, MA
Endorsement Raises Doubts About Obama ABC News
S. Carolina Black Leaders Back Clinton CBS News, NY
S. Carolina Black Leaders Back Clinton ABC News
S. Carolina black leaders back Clinton San Jose Mercury News, CA
Many key Dems dislike Clinton 'caution' Chicago Sun-Times, IL
Two South Carolina black leaders back Clinton WLUC-TV, MI
Endorsement Raises Doubts About Obama Business Portal 24 (press release), Germany
Endorsement raises doubts about Obama Sacramento Bee, CA
AP: 2 Key Black SC Leaders Give Support To Clinton WCBS-TV New York, NY
Black leaders endorse Clinton over Obama WJBC News, IL
Clinton's presidential bid draws support from SC Poughkeepsie Journal, NY
Two State Senators Says They'll Support Hillary WLTX.com, SC
"Caution vs. Courage" The Conservative Voice, NC
Hillary Clinton & John Edwards: Caution vs. Courage National Ledger, AZ
An early scramble for money for Edwards Knoxville News Sentinel (subscription), TN
South Carolina black leaders throw support to Clinton ABC7Chicago.com, IL
State Senator: Obama Would Cause Every Democrat To Lose WCSH-TV, ME
2 Key Black South Carolina Leaders Support Clinton WCIV, SC
Edwards Stumbles Out of the Gate Human Events, DC
League of Her Own GovExec.com
Broder: Let's hope candidates keep debate going Topeka Capital Journal (subscription), KS
The Political Lynching of Barack Obama ThugLifeArmy.com, AZ
John Edwards Visits Dartmouth OpEdNews, PA
Hillary's Lead Down to Only 5 Pts? RealClearPolitics Blog
If you ain't from the South, son, Dem votes are tough Knoxville News Sentinel (subscription), TN
LeBoutillier: Hillary, Rudy and McCain NewsMax.com, FL
Fresh face in DC has made a believer out of me New York Daily News, NY
H. Brandt Ayers: Candidates — Y'all come Anniston Star (subscription), AL
S. Carolina black leaders back Clinton Boston Herald, MA
S. Carolina Black Leaders Back Clinton
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